Support band apparatus to reinforce shirt collars and hems

ABSTRACT

A support band apparatus for use in reinforcing neck and wrist portions of a shirt to prevent limpness and droopiness from normal use of the shirt includes an elastic band assembly having a first elastic band, a second elastic band and a third elastic band, each elastic band having a first end coupled to a second end to create a loop, the loops of the first, second and third elastic bands positioned such that each elastic band is intertwined with the other elastic bands, the elastic band assembly disposed within an inner pocket of a neck collar or wrist hems of the shirt, and a plurality of fasteners coupled to each elastic band assembly and positioned at predetermined locations throughout the first, second and third elastic bands.

BACKGROUND

The embodiments herein relate generally to garments such as tee-shirts,and particularly to the neck collars and wrist portions of these shirts.

Tee-shirts are durable, versatile garments with mass appeal that may beworn as outerwear or underwear. Tee-shirt sleeves may be short or longand sized to fit just about anyone in any size, from infants to seniors.The majority of tee-shirts are made of cotton, polyester, or acotton/polyester blend. Tee-shirts are usually made of knit fabrics,especially jerseys, rib knits, and interlock rib knits, which consist oftwo ribbed fabrics that are joined together. Jerseys are most frequentlyused since they are versatile, comfortable, and relatively inexpensive.

The most common tee-shirts do not open at the front and instead aredonned by pulling the shirt over the head and slipping the head and armsthrough openings provided for the head and arms. Tee-shirts of thisvariety typically have a neckband to add support to the garment and givethe neckline of the T-shirt a more finished look that lays flat againsta user's neck. The neckband may be generally round in shape such as acrewneck, or are V-shaped, but other configurations are possible.

Making T-shirts is a fairly simple and largely automated process.Specially designed machines integrate cutting, assembling, and stitchingfor the most efficient operations. In many applications for crew neckshirts for instance, the neckband is sewn on to a neckline formed by thepartially completed shirt to complete the head opening. The neckband maybe formed from a ribbon or band of material and affixed to the neckline.A tubular neckband may be formed by affixing a tubular length ofmaterial to the neckline or, more commonly, affixing a length of fabricribbon that has been folded over, creating an inner chamber in theneckband, then the edges are aligned with and sewn to the neckline. Someneckbands are attached as separate lengths of fabric to separate frontand back necklines of the shirt, forming two separate inner chambers.

While tee-shirts are used herein by way of example, the presentinvention is applicable to any type of shirt having a collar orneckband, cuff or hem, forming an inner chamber. The cuff or hem of theshirtsleeves of a shirt may also be formed in this manner, or simply byfolding over the edge of the shirt sleeve, creating an inner chamberwithin the hem.

A problem arises with these type of tubular neckbands and hems. After afew uses and washes, the neckband of the shirt becomes limp and droopy,no longer standing up resiliently against a user's neck. While the restof the shirt may still look and feel new, with a droopy collar or loosesleeve hems the overall look of the shirt is unappealing, looking oldand used.

As such, there is a need in the industry for an economical, simple andeffective way to retain the resilience and elasticity of a tubularneckband or hem in a tee-shirt. In the past, some shirt makers haveresolved this problem with a band of elastic tape sewn or otherwiseapplied to the exterior of a neckband. This has been met with somesuccess, but is fairly bulky and stiff in appearance.

SUMMARY

A support band apparatus for use in reinforcing neck and wrist portionsof a shirt to prevent limpness and droopiness of the neck and wristportions from normal use of the shirt is provided. The support bandapparatus is configured to prevent irregular deformations of the neckand wrist portions and minimize user discomfort. The support bandapparatus comprises an elastic band assembly comprising a first elasticband, a second elastic band and a third elastic band, each elastic bandcomprising a first end coupled to a second end to create a loop, theloops of the first, second and third elastic bands positioned such thateach elastic band is intertwined with the other elastic bands, theelastic band assembly configured to be disposed within an inner pocketof a neck collar or wrist hems of the shirt, thereby providing supportto the neck or wrist portions of the shirt, and a plurality of fastenerscoupled to the elastic band assembly and positioned at predeterminedlocations throughout the first, second and third elastic bands, eachpair of adjacent fasteners separated by a distance sufficiently large toprevent a midpoint region of the first, second and third bands betweenthe adjacent fasteners from unraveling, thereby preventing any irregulardeformations of the neck collar or wrist hems and minimizing userdiscomfort.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The detailed description of some embodiments of the invention will bemade below with reference to the accompanying figures, wherein thefigures disclose one or more embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 1 depicts a front elevation view of certain embodiments of thesupport band apparatus;

FIG. 2 depicts a sectional view of certain embodiments of the supportband apparatus taken along line 2-2 in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 depicts a sectional view of certain embodiments of the supportband apparatus taken along line 3-3 in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN EMBODIMENTS

As depicted in FIG. 1, the support apparatus is configured for use withshirt 12 to reinforce neck portion 10 a and wrist portions 10 b. Shirt12 preferably is a tee-shirt, however alternative types of garments maybe used instead such as sweatshirts, jackets, outerwear, other garments,or the like, which comprise neck collars and/or sleeve hems. Shirt 12may be made form any fabric material or combination of materials knownin the field. Neck portion 10 a comprises collar 14, which comprises ahem having a portion of fabric folded over along the edge and sewnthereto to create an inner pocket positioned around the neck region of auser. Similarly, wrist portions 10 b each comprises a hem with an innerpocket positioned around wrists 16 of shirt 12.

The support apparatus comprises wrist elastic band assembly 18configured to be disposed within the inner pockets of wrists 16 andcollar elastic band assembly 20 configured to be disposed within theinner pocket of collar 14. FIG. 2 depicts wrist elastic band assembly 18disposed within the inner pocket created by exterior fabric 22 andinterior fabric 24. Wrist elastic band assembly 18 comprises threeelastic bands made from a flexible material such as rubber. Each elasticband comprises a first end that is coupled to a second end by any meanssuch as a fastener or tied knot to create a loop. The loops of the threeelastic bands are positioned such that each elastic band is intertwinedwith the other elastic bands.

Fasteners 26 are used to secure the three elastic bands together atpredetermined locations throughout wrist elastic band assembly 18. Eachfastener 26 preferably comprises a thread that is tied around theelastic bands in wrist elastic band assembly 18. Fasteners 26 may useany type of materials known in the field such as cotton, nylon,polyester, or the like. However, more durable materials may be usedinstead such as rubber, or the like. It shall be appreciated thatalternative components may be used for fasteners 26 instead such as ziptie-like components, straps, or the like.

FIG. 3 depicts collar elastic band assembly 20 disposed within the innerpocket of collar 14. Collar elastic band assembly 20 has the sameconfiguration and components as wrist elastic band assembly 18, andtherefore comprises three intertwined elastic bands secured by fasteners26. However, the length of each elastic band in collar elastic bandassembly 20 is greater than the length of each elastic band used inwrist elastic band assembly 18 to accommodate the larger size of neckportion 10 a.

The dimensions of elastic bands used in wrist elastic band assembly 18and collar elastic band assembly 20 may vary to accommodate differentsized shirts. However, in a preferred embodiment, each elastic band hasan approximate thickness of 1/32″. It shall be appreciated that anynumber of elastic bands and/or fasteners 26 may be used in wrist elasticband assembly 18 and collar elastic band assembly 20. Each pair ofadjacent fasteners 26 in the assemblies is separated by a distancesufficiently large to prevent the midpoint region of the intertwinedelastic bands between the adjacent fasteners from unraveling. Thismaintains the elastic bands in elastic band assemblies 18, 20 in a neatconfiguration and prevents any irregular deformations in collar 14 andwrists 16 in shirt 12. Although the distance between adjacent fasteners26 on the elastic bands may vary, it has been found that a separation ofat least 3 inches between adjacent fasteners 26 in collar elastic bandassembly 20 is desirable.

It shall be appreciated that wrist elastic band assemblies 18 and collarelastic band assembly 20 reinforce wrists 16 and collar 14, and providethe necessary support to prevent these regions from becoming limp ordroopy. As a result, neck portions 10 a and wrist portions 10 b of shirt12 retain their original shape and condition even after repeatedly beingworn by a user or washed. This enhances the durability and lifetime ofthe shirt, which ultimately saves the user time and money. It shall beappreciated that wrist elastic band assemblies 18 and collar elasticband assembly 20 do not significantly protrude out of shirt 12, whichminimizes any discomfort felt by the user when wearing shirt 12.

It shall be appreciated that the components of the support apparatusdescribed in several embodiments herein may comprise any alternativeknown materials in the field and be of any color, size and/ordimensions. It shall be appreciated that the components of the supportapparatus described herein may be manufactured and assembled using anyknown techniques in the field.

Persons of ordinary skill in the art may appreciate that numerous designconfigurations may be possible to enjoy the functional benefits of theinventive systems. Thus, given the wide variety of configurations andarrangements of embodiments of the present invention the scope of theinvention is reflected by the breadth of the claims below rather thannarrowed by the embodiments described above.

What is claimed is:
 1. A support band apparatus for use in reinforcingneck and wrist portions of a shirt to prevent limpness and droopiness ofthe neck and wrist portions from normal use of the shirt, the supportband apparatus configured to prevent irregular deformations of the neckand wrist portions and minimize user discomfort, the support bandapparatus comprising: an elastic band assembly comprising a firstelastic band, a second elastic band and a third elastic band, eachelastic band comprising a first end coupled to a second end to create aloop, the loops of the first, second and third elastic bands positionedsuch that each elastic band is intertwined with the other elastic bands,the elastic band assembly configured to be disposed within an innerpocket of a neck collar or wrist hems of the shirt, thereby providingsupport to the neck or wrist portions of the shirt; and a plurality offasteners coupled to the elastic band assembly and positioned atpredetermined locations throughout the first, second and third elasticbands, each pair of adjacent fasteners separated by a distancesufficiently large to prevent a midpoint region of the first, second andthird bands between the adjacent fasteners from unraveling, therebypreventing any irregular deformations of the neck collar or wrist hemsand minimizing user discomfort.
 2. The support band apparatus of claim1, wherein the first, second and third elastic bands are made from arubberized material.
 3. The support band apparatus of claim 2, whereineach elastic band of the first, second and third elastic bands comprisesa thickness of approximately 1/32 of an inch.
 4. The support bandapparatus of claim 2, wherein each fastener of the plurality offasteners comprises a thread tied around the first, second and thirdelastic bands.
 5. A shirt with reinforced neck and wrist portions toprevent limpness and droopiness of the neck and wrist portions fromnormal use of the shirt, the reinforced portions configured to preventirregular deformations of the neck and wrist portions of the shirt andminimize user discomfort, the shirt comprising: a flexible garmentassembly comprising a front portion, a rear portion, a neck collar, afirst sleeve and a second sleeve, each sleeve of the first and secondsleeves comprising a wrist portion, each of the neck collar and wristportions comprising a hem with an inner pocket; and an elastic bandassembly disposed within the inner pocket of the hem of each of the neckcollar, the first sleeve and the second sleeve, each elastic bandassembly comprising a first elastic band, a second elastic band and athird elastic band, each elastic band comprising a first end coupled toa second end to create a loop, the loops of the first, second and thirdelastic bands positioned such that each elastic band is intertwined withthe other elastic bands, the elastic band assemblies disposed within thehem inner pockets of the neck collar, the first wrist portion and thesecond wrist portion configured to provide support to the neck and wristportions of the shirt; and a plurality of fasteners coupled to eachelastic band assembly and positioned at predetermined locationsthroughout the first, second and third elastic bands, each pair ofadjacent fasteners separated by a distance sufficiently large to preventa midpoint region of the first, second and third bands between theadjacent fasteners from unraveling, thereby preventing any irregulardeformations of the neck collar or wrist portions of the shirt andminimizing user discomfort.
 6. The shirt of claim 5, wherein the first,second and third elastic bands of each elastic band assembly are madefrom a rubberized material.
 7. The shirt of claim 6, wherein eachelastic band of the first, second and third elastic bands in eachelastic band assembly comprises a thickness of approximately 1/32 of aninch.
 8. The shirt of claim 6, wherein each fastener of the plurality offasteners in each elastic band assembly comprises a thread tied aroundthe first, second and third elastic bands.
 9. The shirt of claim 8,wherein the distance separating each pair of adjacent fasteners in theelastic band assembly disposed in the neck collar is at least 3 inches.